Saturday, February 20, 2010

Life in Stinkerville

It's time for a little update on how Annabel is doing lately. Remember, no news is usually good news regarding her general health issues! But she recently saw the pediatrician for her nine month check-up. NINE month check-up! That's good news already, right? The doc was happy to see that she weighs seven pounds and six ounces now...and she sure has grown a lot in length...she's up to 24 inches! Perhaps she's made to be tall like her daddy. We are still feeding her via her g-button and so far it's working out great. We get to do bolus feeds now and that means we don't have to use the very slow machine pump anymore. We get to try rice cereal and fruit now and we are trying that daily. Sometimes she likes it, and sometimes she doesn't care for it at all. But we are excited just to try! We are also reintroducing bottle feeds little by little and we'll see how she does with that.
We saw the cardiologist again and her heart is pretty much the same since our last visit. We take this as good news: her heart hasn't gotten better, but we are thankful it hasn't gotten worse, either. She still takes heart and lung medication. And she is still comfortable and pain free. And she smiles all the time! She hardly ever fusses or cries, and for that we are thankful, too! Each day with her is truly a blessing!
Which brings us to our final update..her therapy. Stinker has such a busy schedule with her nutritional therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. We do daily exercises and she sees specialists once a week. Little Stinker makes progress in her own special ways, for sure...and she is working hard to accomplish little bitty tasks that most babies can do at a very young age. Right now she is working very hard on trying to hold her head up all by herself. Most Trisomy 18 babies have difficulty doing this for a number of reasons: very low muscle tone, in particular. We engage in tummy time in order to strengthen her neck and back muscles. Today she did great. She lifted her head all by herself a couple of times and she was able to hold it up for maybe five seconds before she got tired, each time! It was just Mommy and Stinker when she did it, and boy was Mommy proud, excited and so thankful all at the same time! Of course we made sure the camera was near before we began so take a look below. Thank you for checking up on Stinker and thank you for the thoughts and prayers. And keep on...don't stop! She is still here for a reason!

This is how Stinker looks before we start tummy time. The usual: just laid back, happy and smiling.


Way to go, Stinker! Hold that head up, girl!


And this is how she looks once we are through with the exercises. Just exhausted, bless her heart. Definitely deserves a nice nap!

10 comments:

  1. How wonderful indeed!!! Yes she is definitely here for a specific reason just as we all are.It is amazing how far Annabel has come in her journey.We thank God every day that she is still with us.Our deepest love goes out to Annabel and her loving parents for the care she receives.Keep on fighting baby. We love you with all of our hearts.
    Love,Meemaw and Pawpaw

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  2. I do checkin and read all the time. Sometimes I just don't have time to leave a message. She is in our prayers all the time. So glad she is doing well. She is such a fighter. Tahnk you for faithfully updating. I have friends that read her blog and we talk about her but they don't comment on any blogs. So remember she touches many lives even people you don't know.

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  3. Hehehe! Annabel you make me smile! So excited for you sweet girl to hold that head up! You keep on working on that! Can't get over those cheeks! Tell your Mama to kiss them for me! Can't believe 9 months old! You are truly Amazing Sweet Annabel! God Bless you, and your mama and daddy. XOXOX--Rose :)

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  4. She is so beautiful. And LONG! So happy she is doing so well.

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  5. Hey Sweet Annabel! I don't know if you remember me, but I was one of the speech therapists that you saw last summer. I was so glad to find your blog a few months ago- I went back and read from the beginning. I am glad to hear you are growing and getting so strong! You are a beautiful little girl and very fashionable, too :) I am so privileged to have met you and your mommy and daddy! Keep up the good work little lady - you and your family are never far from my thoughts and prayers!

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  7. I found this blog months ago and check-in faithfully. Those eyes and that smile make me smile daily. She is amazing!

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  8. Way to go Annabel!! We are so proud of you!! All that exercise takes a lot out of you ... keep working hard! You can do it!

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  9. Hi sweet Annabel, I can't tell you enough what an amazing little girl you are and how much joy it brings me to see you doing so well. Keep up the fight lil one, you are doing such an awesome job!!! Jorge and Carrie, I know that you guys must just be so proud of your baby girl. Thanks for sharing her life with us alittle, keep the pics and updates coming...I'm always checking in on her :-)

    Warmly,
    Anna - Lyla's mom :-)

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  10. Woo-hoo Annabel!!! Keep making us proud girl! Jorge and Carrie...you guys and your sweet baby girl continue to be an inspiration to me. I really admire your strength, patience, and love. Again...thanks for sharing this part of your lives. Amazing.

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